This image is part of a series that was created for an open textbook, Fundamentals of Business, 4e. The textbook will be available Fall 2022 at https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/.

Preferred citation:

Kindred Grey (2022). "Imports, exports, and balance of payments (1990-2021)." Data from https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/statistics/historical/goods.pdf. CC BY 4.0.

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Alternative text:

A multiple line graph of imports, exports, and payments in the United States. The x-axis shows the year from 1990 to 2020 in 5 year increments. The y-axis shows the amount of money in millions of dollars, starting from -$1,000,000 (below the x-axis) and going to $3,000,000 in $500,000 increments. Imports are labeled with the thickest line, which steadily increases from approximately $500,000 in 1990 to over $2,000,000 around 2008. The line then drops to $1,500,000 in 2009, then jumps back to increase over $2,000,000 in 2011 and continues to increase. Exports are shown with a thinner line, which steadily increases from $500,000 in 1990 to between $1,000,000 and $1,500,000 around 2008. The line then drops to $1,000,000 in 2009, then jumps back to $1,500,000 in 2011 and continues to increase. Balance of payments is shown in the thinnest line, which steadily decreases from below $0 in 1990 to almost -$1,000,000 in 2008. The line then jumps up to -$500,000 in 2009, then decreases to between -$500,000 and -$1,000,000. A text box above the graph reads: “Because we buy more products from foreign companies than we sell to foreign companies and consumers, we must import more than we export. The gap between what we spend and what we take in is reflected in our national balance of payments."

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